‘Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ Hits Best Monday Ratings Since 2010 Return

He’s in the last week of his stint as host of The Tonight Show, but Jay Leno isn’t going quietly. Three nights after delivering his highest overnight ratings since President Obama was a guest in October 2012, Leno matched Friday’s rating with a 3.9/10. It marked the best Monday result since the late-night host returned to The Tonight Show in 2010; Leno pulled a 5.4 when he took the show over again on Monday, March 1, 2010. Last night guests were Leno’s successor Jimmy Fallon and 92-year-old Betty White. The ratings results left Leno’s 11:30 PM rivals far behind: A Late Show With David Letterman encore on CBS got a 2.3/6, while Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC garnered a 2.2/6 in 56 metered markets. Leno has the Oscar-nominated Matthew McConaughey, NBA legend Charles Barkley and Lyle Lovett scheduled as guests tonight.

The Tonight Show ratings good times continued for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon as well. A special The Best Of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Musical Sketches also delivered the show’s best Monday ratings results since March 1, 2010. It drew a 2.0/7 in metered markets, easily beating Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson’s 1.1/4.

Leno leaves the 11:30 slot for the final time February 6, and Fallon debuts as Tonight Show host on February 17. Leaving Leno’s Burbank HQ behind, Fallon’s Tonight Show will be broadcast from New York City; Lorne Michaels is exec producing, and Fallon’s Late Night writer Amy Ozols has been named producer.

11 Comments

I never watch Jay Leno, but I did last night. Finally week of shows. Fallon and Betty White (also dumped from NBC).

SF • on Feb 4, 2014 7:58 am

Watching NBC further sink after Fallon tanks will be sweet.

joey • on Feb 4, 2014 8:22 am

Fallon will flop spectacularly. Letterman will get Leno’s old viewers and will finally get the #1 spot that he has coveted for so long.

Marvin • on Feb 4, 2014 8:56 am

Most of those viewers tuned in to see the successor to Johnny Carson’s throne, Mr. Jimmy Fallon. Nobody cares about Leno anymore.
FYI – Leno got a 3.9 rating Monday night. Do you realize that before the Conan dust up Jay would ROUTINELY get a 6.5? I’m talking a night when the guests were Carrot Top and Charles Krauthammer. I attribute the fall to half Conan fallout and half the fact that the writing has gotten increasingly juvenile over the years.

Andrew • on Feb 4, 2014 9:26 am

Not as juvenile as this post. “Nobody cares about Leno anymore.” Really? That’s why he continues to have the top ratings in late night.

Chris • on Feb 4, 2014 9:32 am

And Conan’s current ratings are a fraction of that. The late night format has been dead for some time and most of america don’t watch any of these tired programs.

Sorry • on Feb 4, 2014 12:28 pm

While waiting for Craig Ferguson to come on, I watched the last few minutes of Tonight out of morbid curiosity. Fallon and Leno both talking during the Betty White segment was painful. Neither of them said anything funny or anything to move the conversation forward, all while the topic was what a good interviewer Carson was. So sad.

The only shows with any wit, enthusiasm & playfulness nowadays are Ferguson and Colbert.

bobrow55 • on Feb 4, 2014 2:51 pm

Jimmy Fallon will be a hit on the Tonight Show.

Said no one. Ever.

Mike • on Feb 6, 2014 7:14 am

Oh really, bobrow55? How can you be so certain? If even one person has said it, you’re wrong. :P

P.S. I’d suggest you brush up on the term ‘fallacy’ and learn to avoid using fallacies in order to make an actual convincing argument.

jack • on Feb 7, 2014 2:07 pm

You sound like an absolute tool Mike..This isn’t debate prep. Don’t be a total dweeb.